Wesley So Shares Top Honors in Reykjavik Chess Championship

Manila---WORLD CUP bound GM Wesley Barbasa So (ELO 2684) made the country proud anew when he finished in a tie for first to third places in the just concluded 28th Reykjavik Open chess championship Wednesday night at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The 19-year-old Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid made a quick draw against GM Pavel Eljanov (ELO 2678) of Ukraine using the disadvantageous black pieces in just three (3) moves of Gruenfeld defense according to National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.  who watch the game thru live internet to finish unbeaten record with 8.0 points on six wins, four draws in the prestigious ten (10) round Swiss-system event which attracted 227 players.

Eljanov said to the official website that he was planning to “play a little”, but when his opponent (GM Wesley Barbasa So) offered the draw, he saw no reason to decline.

"Tinangap ni GM (Pavel) Eljanov ang draw ng amg offer si GM (Wesley) So para mag tie for first sila kasama yung Egyptian Grandmaster (Bassem Amin) nanalo naman sa last round ," added Pichay, who is also a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) board of trustees under the leadership of Jose' Peping" Cojuangco Jr. 

GM Bassem Amin of Egypt toppled GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland after 52 moves of Sicilian defense to match the eight points marker of So and Eljanov.

The Filipino champion who notched a Rating Performance of 2753, however, finished only second in the Buchholz tiebreak topped by Eljanov while Amin wound up third place. But most important, the Webster University freshman student joined the elite Hydra Grandmaster group, affixed name to those player who reached 2700 ELO mark. 

"This is the first time na may Filipinong nakaabot ng 2700 Elo rating points sa katauhan ni Wesley na may live rating 2701," explained Pichay.

Eljanov, So and Amin shared 8,250 Euros according to the Hort system (Eljanov had the best Bucholz and therefore received slightly more prize money).

Rounding up to the top eleven (11) place with 7.5 points each were No.4 GM Anish Giri of the The Netherlands,  No.5 GM Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria, No.6 IM Wei Yi of China, No.7 GM Marcin Dziuba of Poland, No.8 GM Ding Liren of China, No.9 NM Yaacov Norowitz of the USA, No.10 GM Gawain Jones of England and No.11 GM Ivan Sokolov of the Netherlands. 

IM Wei Yi of China, 14, formally had secured his 3rd & final GM norm scoring 7.0/9 and a Rating performance (Rp) of 2661. 

So’s campaign is backed up by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales.

The tournament serves as So’s build up for the 2013 World Chess Cup scheduled on August 10 to September 5 in Tromso, Norway. Joining So in the World Chess Cup is fellow GM Oliver Barbosa. -Marlon Bernardino-

Filipino GM Wesley Barbasa So Makes History, Breaks 2,700 ELO Barrier in 28th Reykjavik Open Chess Championships

Individual standings after Round 9:

7.5 points---GM Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), GM Wesley Barbasa So (Philippines)

7.0 points---GM Grzegorz Gajewski (Poland), GM Anish Giri (The Netherlands), GM Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria), IM Wei Yi (China),  GM Gawain Jones (England), GM Bassem Amin (Egypt)

Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So (ELO 2684) defeated GM Marcin Dziuba (ELO 2602) of Poland to keep share of lead with GM Pavel Eljanov (ELO 2678) of Ukraine who brought downed GM Ding Liren (ELO 2709) of China after the ninth and penultimate round of 28th Reykjavik Open chess championships at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Reykjavik, Iceland on Wednesday.

The Filipino champion went for a queen sacrifice in exchange of a rook and bishop. The position was very sharp and So claimed a winning advantage with an exchange sacrifice. A very nice final sequence finished in checkmate on move 41 of their Caro-kann defense encounter using the white pieces.

According to National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., after the win over Polish GM Dziuba, So made history breaks 2700 Elo barrier.

" Wesley's current live rating is 2701.4 after the win over Polish GM (Marcin) Dziuba." said Pichay, who watched the game live through internet. 

So's Rating Performance going to the 10th and final round is 2768.

"We hope manalo si Wesley kay GM (Pavel) Eljanov sa last round para makuha nya ang first major title sa taong ito," added Pichay, who is also a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) board of trustees under the leadership of Jose' Peping" Cojuangco Jr. 

Eljanov, meantime played with black against Ding. The game was highly tense from the beginning because both players decided to expand their pawns on the flanks, leaving their kings uncastled. The Ukrainian was the first one to break in the center with a knight sacrifice for two pawns. The Chinese needed to play precisely to avoid losing immediately, but was not able to do so. He resigned on move 22 when black is about to create a super strong passed pawn on the queenside.

"Brilliant din y'ung pagkapanalo ni Eljanov kay Ding Liren," last word of Pichay.

Eljanov will have the white pieces on Thursday against So for the coveted title. Eljanov and So, both tallied 7.5 points in the ten (10) Swiss-System event which offers a prize fund of 15,000 euro with the winner taking 5,000 euro and the runner-up getting 2,000 euro.

Bunch of 7.0 pointers are GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland, GM Anish Giri of The Netherlands, GM Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria, IM Wei Yi of China,  GM Gawain Jones of England and GM Bassem Amin of Egypt.

Gajewski split the point with Wei after 33 moves of Neo-Gruenfeld defense, Giri toppled countryman GM Erwin L'ami after 40 moves of Slav defense, Cheparinov routed GM Mustafa Yilmaz of Turkey after 41 moves of another Slav skirmish, Jones subdued GM Nils Grandelius of Sweden after 51 moves of English Opening and Amin shocked GM David Navara of Czech Republic after 38 moves of Bogo-Indian defense.

So’s campaign is backed up by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales.

The tournament serves as So’s build up for the 2013 World Chess Cup scheduled on August 10 to September 5in Tromso, Norway. Joining So in the World Chess Cup is fellow GM Oliver Barbosa.        -Marlon Bernardino-

Wesley, Chinese settle for draw

Individual standings after Round 8:

6.5 points---GM Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), GM Wesley Barbasa So (Philippines), GM Marcin Dziuba (Poland), GM Grzegorz Gajewski (Poland),  IM Wei Yi (China), GM Ding Liren (China)

6.0 points---GM Yu Yangyi (China),GM Anish Giri (The Netherlands),GM Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria), GM Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria), GM Mustafa Yilmaz (Turkey), GM Nils Grandelius (Sweden), GM Erwin L'ami (The Netherlands), GM David Navara (Czech Republic), GM Hannes Stefansson (Iceland), GM Bassem Amin (Egypt), IM Sopiko Guramishvili (Georgia)

Round 9 top board pairings:

Board 1: GM Ding Liren (China) vs GM Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)

Board 2: GM Wesley Barbasa So (Philippines) vs GM Marcin Dziuba (Poland)

Board 3: GM Grzegorz Gajewski (Poland) vs IM Wei Yi (China)

FILIPINO Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So (ELO 2684) held to a draw this time by GM Yu Yangyi (ELO 2688) of China and share of the lead again in the  8th round of the 28th Reykjavik Open chess championships at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Reykjavik, Iceland on Tuesday.

So, 19, and Yu agreed to halve to the point after 22 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening to raise his total 6.5 points and create a six-way tie for first.

Bunched at 6.5 points are GM Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine, GM Marcin Dziuba and GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland, GM Ding Liren and IM Wei Yi of China.

Eljanov split the point with Gajewski after 35 moves of English Opening, Dziuba toppled GM Ivan Sokolov  of the Netherlands after 68 moves of Queens Gambit Accepted, Ding routed GM Alexander Ipatov of Turkey after 31 moves of King's Indian defense and Wei upset GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France after 33 moves of Sicilian defense, Rossolimo variation.

The Filipino champion will be facing Dziuba in the crucial ninth round of the tournament, Ding will meet Eljanov while Gajewski opposite Wei in the event which offers a prize fund of 15,000 euro with the winner taking 5,000 euro and the runner-up getting 2,000 euro.

So’s campaign is backed up by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales.

The tournament serves as So’s build up for the 2013 World Chess Cup scheduled on August 10 to September 5 in Tromso, Norway. Joining So in the World Chess Cup is fellow GM Oliver Barbosa.      -Marlon Bernardino-

Wesley So shares lead in Reykjavik Open 2013 Chess Championship

Individual standings after Round 7:

6.0 points---GM Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), GM Grzegorz Gajewski (Poland), GM Wesley Barbasa So (Philippines)

5.5 points---GM Anish Giri (The Netherlands), GM Yu Yangyi (China), GM Marcin Dziuba (Poland), GM Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria), IM Wei Yi (China), GM Gawain Jones (England), GM Ding Liren (China), GMMustafa Yilmaz (Turkey), GM Alexander Ipatov (Turkey), GM Erwin L'ami (The Netherlands), GM Bassem Amin (Egypt), GM Ivan Sokolov (The Netherlands)

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Wesley Barbasa So of the Philippines gets another step closer to the title of the 28th Reykjavik Open chess championships at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Reykjavik, Iceland on Monday.

The 7th-seeded So (ELO 2684) defeated 23th-seeded GM Stelios Halkias (ELO 2566) of Greece after 41 moves of King's Pawn Opening in the seventh round to join overnight solo-leader GM Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine and GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland at the top of the leaderboard.

With three rounds to go, the victory boosted So’s chances of seizing the title and currently a Rating performance of 2761.

Eljanov only managed a draw against GM Anish Giri of The Netherlands after 100 moves of Reti Opening while Gajewski subdued GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France after 78 moves of Gruenfeld defense.

So, Eljanov and Gajewski were tied with 6.0 points each.

The Filipino champion will be facing GM Yu Yangyi (ELO 2688) of China in the crucial eight round of the tournament, while Eljanov will meet Gajewski which offers a prize fund of 15,000 euro with the winner taking 5,000 euro and the runner-up getting 2,000 euro.

So’s campaign is backed up by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr.

The tournament serves as So’s build up for the 2013 World Chess Cup scheduled on August 10 to September 5in Tromso, Norway. Joining So in the World Chess Cup is fellow GM Oliver Barbosa.  -Marlon Bernardino-

Reykjavik Open 2013 chess: So in fighting draw vs French GM

Individual standings after Round 6:

5.5 points---GM Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)

5.0 points---GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), GM Anish Giri (The Netherlands), GM Yu Yangyi (China), GM Wesley Barbasa So (Philippines), GM Grzegorz Gajewski (Poland), GM Gawain Jones (England), GM Stelios Halkias (Greece), 

FILIPINO GM Wesley Barbasa So battled French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave to a draw in the sixth  round of the  28th Reykjavik Open chess championships at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Iceland on Sunday.

Playing black against the second-seed Vachier-Lagrave (ELO 2715), the seventh-seeded Filipino champion  (ELO 2684)  chose a rare line and played aggressively throughout before settling for a draw in 27 moves of Sicilian defense, kan variation.

"Wesley looked very much relaxed ( during the game against Vachier-Lagrave). He now plays almost like a  young  (Viswananthan) Anand." said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr., who watched the game live through internet. 

So actually chose a rare line 5...Qc7 which  Vachier-Lagrave countered with an interesting 6.Be3.

In the 19 moves of So...Nxe5, Vachier-Lagrave opted for  more complications and  played aggressively 20. Ba8, sacrificing his Queen for a two Rooks, Knight, White bishop, and five Pawns against So's Queen, Rook and six Pawns.

The 19-year-old Bacoor, Cavite whiz kid, who is now studying at the Webster University in the United States,will gun for his important win  when he plays  white against 23th-seeded GM Stelios Halkias (ELO 2566) of Greece in the seventh round.

The draw enabled So, top player of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr.,  to share 2nd to 8th place of the group of 5.0 pointers in the company of GM Anish Giri of the Netherlands, GM Yu Yangyi of China, GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland, GM Gawain Jones of England and Halkias.

In other matches saw, Yu halved the point with Giri while Gajewski split the point with countryman GM Bartosz Socko while Jones nipped GM Hannes Stefansson of Sweden

GM Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine trounced GM Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria to grabs the solo lead with 5.5 points. After Round 6, So' Rating performance is 2706, equavallent so called "Hydra GM", higher than a Super Grandmaster (2600 mark) according to Pichay.  -Marlon Bernardino-

Wesley So gains share of lead in Reykjavik Open 2013 chess

FILIPINO Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So (ELO 2684) beat Chinese International Master Wei Yi (ELO 2501) to share the lead in the fifth round of the 28th Reykjavik Open chess championships at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Iceland on Saturday.

So hiked his total to 4.5 points, the same output of GM Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine, GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, GM Yu Yangyi of China, GM Anish Giri of the Netherland, GM Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria and GM Grzegorz Gajewski of Poland.

Eljanov split the point with Vachier-Lagrave, Gajewski settled for a truce with Yu, Giri toppled GM Alexander Ipatov of Turkey and Cheparinov trounced GM Stefan Kristjansson of Iceland.

In the sixth round, Yu vs Giri, Vachier-Lagrave opposite So, Cheparinov against Eljanov and Gajewski against GM Bartosz Socko  of Poland. Socko drew with GM Vladimir Baklan of Ukraine to lead the huge group of 4.0 pointers.-Marlon Bernardino-

Reykjavik Open 2013 chess: Wesley So draws with Swede, dropped to a share of 5th

FILIPINO Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So (ELO 2684) dropped to a share of 5th after being held to a draw for the first time since winning his first three matches in the fourth round of the 28th Reykjavik Open chess championships at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Iceland on Friday.

So, 19, top player of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., split the point with IM Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson (ELO 2509) of Iceland to raised his total 3.5 points, the same output of GM Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria, GM Anish Giri of the Netherland, GM Bartosz Socko  of Poland, GM Vladimir Baklan of Ukraine, GM Gawain Jones of England, GM Stefan Kristjansson and Gretarsso of Iceland, GM Alexander Ipatov of Turkey, WGM Guo Qi and IM Wei Yi of China, his fifth round opponent.

GM Yu Yangyi of China toppled GM Yury Shulman of the USA for his fourth straight wins in as many rounds. Joining Yu for the leadership board are  GM Pavel Eljanov of Ukraine who brought downed GM Aloyzas Kveinys of Lithuania, GM Grzegorz Gajewski Socko  of Poland who dealt IM Andrew  Muir of Scotland and GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France who nipped GM L'ami Erwin of the Netherlands.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. earlier said that he his confident So will attain his goal of breaking the ELO 2700 mark this year. 

Meanwhile, FIDE delegate Casto "Toti" Abundo announced yesterday the staging for the FIDE Arbiters Seminaron March 22 to 24 2013 at the DepEd AV Room in Pasig City.  -Marlon Bernardino-

Reykjavik Open 2013 chess: So stuns IM Andersen to share early lead

Filipino Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So (ELO 2684) stunned IM Mads Andersen of Denmark (ELO 2462) in the third round of the 28th Reykjavik Open chess championships at Harpa, the 28.000 sqm. concert hall in Iceland on Thursday.

The win enabled So, top player of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr.,

 to share the early lead in the huge group of perfect three (3.0) pointers with GM Anish Giri and GM L'ami Erwin of the Netherlands, GM Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria, GM Grzegorz Gajewski and GM Bartosz Socko  of Poland, GM Yury Shulman of the USA, GM Aloyzas Kveinys of Lithuania,  GM Yu Yangyi and IM Wei Yi of China, GM Pavel Eljanov and Vladimir Baklan of Ukraine, GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France, IM Andrew  Muir of Scotland and IM Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson of Iceland, his fourth round opponent.

"“There's no doubt that Wesley will attain his goal of breaking the ELO 2700 mark this year, especially during the coming Chess World Cup-2013  in Tromso, Norway," said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr., who watched the game live through internet. 

No.7 seed So, a freshman at Webster University in St. Louis, will be handling the black pieces when he faces Gretarsson in the fourth round. The Bacoor, Cavite native, earlier beat Fredrik Palmqvist of Sweden and IM Erik Andrew Kislik of USA, respectively.

In other top board third round matches saw, top seed Giri  beat IM Axel Smith of Sweden, No.2 Vachier-Lagrave dealt GM Williams Simon K of England, No.4 Cheparinov walloped WGM Huang Qian of China,  No.6 Yu routed countryman IM Lou Yiping and No.8 Eljanov toppled WGM Tan Zhongyi of China.  -Marlon Bernardino-